ethanol

Articles

My work is a conduit that moves discoveries from scientists' lab benches, fields, and computers into Twitter feeds and conversations. I help scientists share their stories, and I help journalists find scientists with stories to share.

Revamped ag robot unveiled at ARPA-E Innovation Summit

Claire Benjamin

Jul 8, 2018
2 min

Revamped ag robot unveiled at ARPA-E Innovation Summit

Robots developed to increase bioenergy crop yields will be showcased at the ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit in Denver.

Illinois’ crop-counting robot earns top recognition at leading robotics conference

Claire Benjamin

Jul 2, 2018
2 min

Illinois’ crop-counting robot earns top recognition at leading robotics conference

The TERRA-MEPP robot was recognized by the best systems paper award at Robotics: Science and Systems.

Ag robot speeds data collection, analyses of crops as they grow

Claire Benjamin

Mar 18, 2018
3 min

Ag robot speeds data collection, analyses of crops as they grow

A new lightweight, low-cost agricultural robot could transform data collection and field scouting.

Scientists engineer sugarcane to produce biodiesel, more sugar for ethanol

Claire Benjamin

Apr 4, 2017
3 min

Scientists engineer sugarcane to produce biodiesel, more sugar for ethanol

A multi-institutional team led by the University of Illinois have proven sugarcane can be genetically engineered to produce oil in its...

Dual-purpose biofuel crops could extend production, increase profits

Claire Benjamin

Jan 11, 2017
3 min

Dual-purpose biofuel crops could extend production, increase profits

Today many biofuel refineries operate for only seven months each year, turning freshly harvested crops into ethanol and biodiesel. When...

Grant helps project realize “ultra-productive”
biofuel crops, attract investors

Claire Benjamin

May 10, 2016
2 min

Grant helps project realize “ultra-productive” biofuel crops, attract investors

Imagine—instead of acres of oil wells on barren land—endless fields of towering green sugarcane, with each stalk producing renewable and...

Open-source plant database confirms top US bioenergy crop

Claire Benjamin

Jan 6, 2016
2 min

Open-source plant database confirms top US bioenergy crop

Scientists have confirmed that Miscanthus, long speculated to be the top biofuel producer, yields more than twice as much as switchgrass...

It’s time to stop thinking in terms of food versus fuel

Claire Benjamin

Sep 15, 2015
3 min

It’s time to stop thinking in terms of food versus fuel

Whether you have taken a side or a backseat in the discussion, the “food versus fuel” debate affects us all. Some say growing more...